SteelSeries Rival 300
Enough features for the price?
The very first thing we noticed when using this mouse was the superiority of the left and right buttons compared to the Rival 100 — they just felt more responsive and ‘clicky’. Secondly, it’s got a beautiful finish that makes it feel much more comfortable in the hand, with a rubber feel and rubber side plates. It’s also a little more ergonomic (for right-handers only, sadly), with a more contoured shape than the 100. The buttons are also a tad bit larger, making them easier to hit when things get frantic.
However, other than these changes, it’s actually very similar to the 100. It uses an identical optical sensor, although SteelSeries has increased the DPI range to 50–6,500.
If you happen to have a 3D printer handy, there’s a small plate at the rear that can be replaced with a custom logo, which we envisage will be used by perhaps four people on the planet.
Like the 100, the 300 is limited to just two different DPI settings — we really think three is the minimum these days, especially if you play Battlefield (sniping, run and gun, and vehicles). The software is identical to the 100, lacking the mouse pad calibration of others.
If you’re willing to pay $40 more for these extra features, go right ahead, but in some ways, SteelSeries has delivered a rival product for half the price that is almost as good.